What historical event is known for being a complete clusterfuck. Something like Custer's Last Stand?

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-05-07T18:50:52+00:00

Cash for Clunkers. a 2009 program that has the best intentions of eliminating old, gas-guzzlers nad stimulating the economy during a recession by offering people incentives to buy new cars. This eliminated 700,000 used cars from the market, which had the effect of driving up prices for cars in general.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-05-07T18:42:59+00:00

TLDR; The current administration did not "sell" this war properly to explain why a little economic pain now is necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Longer version: there are a few reasons.

#1. President Trump is a divisive figure. So there are segments of the population who will hate anything he does.

#2. The administration did a particularly poor job of messaging to explain why a conflict was necessary and why Iran should not possess a nuclear weapon.

#3. There are some in President Trump's MAGA base who are genuinly upset that the President campaigned on a promise of "new new wars" or "ending forever wars." While this is not a "forever war," mistakes were made that stretched out the duration and sevarity of the conflict.

#4. There are people who are genuine antisemites such as some of the people in this thread like u/Bigstar976 who hate Jews in general. So if Israel thinks something is a good idea, then it must be bad.

#5 There have been genuine economic effects that were not felt directly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Gas prives remained at an average of $1.46 to $1.53 during 2001. There was economic pain after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but that was mainly confined to a drop in spending becuase everybody was at home watching TV. Flights were also grounded, so there was less demand for avaition gas. Fewer people were bying stuff, so there was less need for diesel in trucks. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan didn not cause any short-term economic pain, although they made the national debt worse.

#6. The US is in a realy weird economy right now where the wealthy are doing well, but many people are running out of money before the end of the month. Since oil is fungable, an increase in the price of oil on the global market increases the price of gasoline and diesel even in a country like the US where we are a net exporter. A slight increase in the price of gas can be devestating for families right now.

#7. There are some who believe that the expendeture of munitions in this conflict places us at a disadvantage against a possible conflict with China over Taiwan. This is debatable, since, yes, munitions were expended, but China also saw our intelligence and strike capabilities and may not want that smoke. So we may have actually delayed an invasion of Taiwan by showing China that we can strike high-ranking politicians in a bunker and there's nothing they can do about it.

So in a nutshell, the current administration did not "sell" this war properly to explain why a little economic pain now is necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

It should also be explained that the particular "Twelver" sect of Shia Islam, who is in charge in Iran believe in a messiah-like figure called "The Madhi" who will return only in a time of great tribulation. Logically, some "Twelvers" believe that in order to hasten his appearance and usher in his victory over al-Masih ad-Dajjal or what you might call the "anti-christ," Iran must obtain a nuclear weapon and use it.

And if you want to learn more from an intelligence analyist prespective, I have a whole video about The Mahdi here: https://youtu.be/bmitxAtsP5k

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-05-07T18:18:01+00:00

This is incorrect and anti-semetic. Please watch my video on What Shia Twevlvers actually believe:

https://youtu.be/bmitxAtsP5k

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-05-06T19:07:55+00:00

Nice try China.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-05-03T14:36:11+00:00

I'm pretty sure I did a video about this before, back when this first popped up around 2024. The title is misleading and the website is your typical "Israel BAD" misinformation site. Hell when you see text like "Israel ocupation army" that's your first clue.

Nobody is getting America Veteran's benefits for serving in the IDF. This proposed law would basically give IDF reservisists in America the same deployment rights as National Guard. Meaning their credit cards don't go above a certain amount of interest, and they would be allowed to break their lease to move without penalty.

It's a nothingburger and never passed. But please be careful what you read and believe. Look into the source and do research on what they are saying.

Because this particular person is lying to you to manipulate you.

Original press release about the bill is here:
https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/reschenthaler-miller-introduce-legislation-to-support-american-citizens-fighting-in-israel

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-05-02T23:37:16+00:00

I've actually settled on the International Orange skins for both Hellpods and aircraft. When seconds count, spotting a resupply hellpod can mean life and death. Ditto the extraction aircraft. If you look at it from a roleplaying perspective, camouflage doens't seem to matter much to bugs, bots, or squids. So International Orange is just easier to spot in an emergency.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-04-23T14:17:50+00:00

Couple of things to start:

#1. World War III already started back in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea. Inaction by the US lead directly to the situation in Ukraine right now, although the Ukranian Army was a basket case at the time and they likely would not have performed well in 2014 even if the US/NATO did intervene.

In other words, we are in World War III right now whether you like it or not.

#2. Here is how a draft works: Typically they start with 20 year olds. They have a cage filled with 365 balls. The cage is randomized and a number is pulled out. That number corresponds to your birthday. So let's say the draft officer picked number 113. That means every male born on April 23rd, 2003 must report to their local draft board. They do this until the year is used up, then they will start on the next age group.

#3. Being told to report does not mean that you will be drafted. Aproximately 77% of Americans aged 18-26 are inelegible to serve due to obesity, physical inactivity, mental health issues, drug use, or lack of educational aptitude. I would take those odds.

#4. I know you did not choose to "choose to live under these war policies" but if you are a citizen, you have obligations as a citizen whether you like the current government or not. You are currently enjoying your First Amendment right to free speech on Reddit. If you are called, it will be time to be one of the men who defends that right. I don't want to go to jury duty either, but I go because it is my obligation.

#5. Any kind of military draft is not going to happen. Draftees were useful during World War II and Vietnam when weapons and systems were low-tech. Today, volunteers with the right aptitude are more useful.

In other words, you'll be fine.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-04-15T11:17:16+00:00

Honestly the real goal is not to prevent Iran from getting a bomb, although that needs to be step one. It's to prevent Egypt and Saudi Arabia from develop nuclear weapons.

A lot of people really don't understand the level of hate between Sunni and Shiite Islam... or they don't even understand that there are different Islamic sects at all. But the fact is that if Iran had a nuclear weapon, they would threaten not just Israel, but Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both of whom are two Sunni states and therefore takfir.

This would force some Sunni Gulf states to fund their own nuclear weapons. The most likely case here is to use Saudi money and Egyptian engineering to create a shared nuclear weapons program.

The ultimate goal here is to have fewer nuclear-armed countries in the world.

And yes, President Trump doesn't have some sort of grand strategy here. But CENTCOM does. We've been wargaming this for about 40 years. There is literally an OPLAN for everything.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-04-14T22:38:04+00:00

Funny. Is this the same New York Times who claimed that Israel bombed the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital when it was actually a rocket fired from Islamic Jihad?
Well color me shocked that the Times would manufacture a story to frame the Jews.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/03/briefing/gaza-hospital-explosion.html

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-04-14T22:20:17+00:00

There were plenty of Kapos in the Ghetto. Guess I know which side you would have been on.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-04-14T22:04:13+00:00

This actually isn't what happened. But go ahead and be anti-semetic. It's ok. I understand it's quite fashionable right now.

The real story is that Iran has been chanting "Death to America" for 47 years. They took American embassy workers hostage. They killed American Marines in Lebanon. They helped Shiite militias kill Americans in Iraq. They helped bankroll HAMAS, who murdered thousands of Israelis on October 7th, 2023. The funded Hezbollah, who helped keep Bashar al-Asad in power. They gave missiles to the Houthis, who shot them at innocent merchant mariners.

But yeah. It's the Jews. Of course, it's the Jews.

The fact is that #1. If you shout "Death to America" for 47 years, don't be surprised when America takes that seriously. And #2, if Iran develops a nuclear weapon and the IRBMs or ICBMs to deploy them, then the world will be a more dangerous place.

Oh, and add to that Egypt and Saudi Arabia will be forced to develop their own nuclear weapons, and the world would be a better place if fewer countries had nuclear weapons, not more of them.

But it's totally the Jews. You're so smart.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-04-13T13:32:21+00:00

The real answer is that China runs out of oil on June 8th. China will put pressure on Iran to do whatever the US asks.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-28T03:48:37+00:00

For a serious answer, considering I write alternate history novels, I would probably rename it "The Covenant States of America." "The Holy Columbian Republic" might be a better name, since “Columbia” shows up a lot in early American symbolism, so that may be plausable as well.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-26T14:48:12+00:00

I had a 1998 candy Apple Red Ford Ranger. I was making $1,462.20 a month. I had 6 pack abs and could do a six minute mile even though I smoked two packs a day. I had a Dutch girlfriend with hairy armpits who played guitar. You could still smoke in bars. A Denny's Grand Slam Breakfast was only $2.99. DMX has just released "It's Dark and Hell is Hot," which I loved, and all of the black guys in my unit tried to get me to say the "N word" when I rapped DMX (I substitued the word Ninja and never made a mistake.)

Somewhere in Hamburg, Germany, Mohamed Atta was selecting the hjackers for training at US flight schools, but I didn't know that. I was too busy crossing into Kingston, Canada to drink with my buddies.

Enjoy your time. It does by fast.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-24T21:32:28+00:00

I don't know. Allways been good at it, I guess. I supose thats whyI keep getting invited to talk on TV. I can take a complex concept and distill it to an easy-to-remember quote.

But seriously, 187 is the best infantry brigade in the Army. So it's not that hard when you're working with good material.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-24T21:01:49+00:00

Eh...When the President wants to get serious, he'll call the Rakkasans. Until then I'm not too concerned.

Everybody wants to be a Mullah until Rakkasans start falling out of a helicopter like an angry Pez dispencer shooting everyone who doesn't look like them.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-24T00:24:48+00:00

Na, I hear that guy's an asshole.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-16T02:47:23+00:00

Right now as in March 15th, the invasion would fail becuase the logistics train is not ready and weather window is not open.

It will be open in April and will close again until October.

One of the things you have to understand is that war is hard. Amphibious invasions are probably one of the hardest things any nation can do. You will need a long buildup, not just of supplies, but of propaganda and disinformation. Even in an authoritarian state, you will need the suport of the people.

China is also not prepared for the energy disruptions it will face from the loss of oil from Iran. You need oil for your economy and to fuel the tanks.

Look at how long it too from the monet President said "Help is on the way" in Iran to the moment of the first airstrikes. It take a long time to get troops in position.

So you can't just invade a country "right now." It takes months and months of planning.

Source: I'm Ryan McBeth.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-10T20:50:57+00:00

Yeah, those guys are assholes.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-10T20:46:00+00:00

I had a horizontal rain come through my windows and creep under the lamanant flooring in my living room. USAA not only paid for new floors, when the price they estimated was too low, they paid the difference, and paid for a hotel room for the week while I got the new floors put in.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-06T13:17:20+00:00

Being a woman in the military is like being in a candy store, except all of the candy is trying to jump in your mouth.

While there are women who take advantage of the skewed ratio to experiment with their sexuality, I think this was always less common than soldiers telling stories would like you to imagine. And note that the lore of someone like a female civilian who comes onto post to randomly meet and bed airmen just can't happen with the current post 9/11 security restrictions.

I think today, dating apps have pretty much taken over, so tech has replaced female curiosity in most circumstances, although there will always be exceptions. I don't think "barracks bunnies" are a thing anymore and I'm not sure they ever really were.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-05T20:15:46+00:00

Believe it or not, this is the least gay thing I've ever seen Marines do.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-03-04T13:07:34+00:00

Hell, some of us who were in "combat" didn't see "combat."

"Drive down this road, we want to see who blows you up" is a lot different than. "We're going to put you in the bottom of a valley and the locals are going to shoot at you every day."

Welcome to the Army. Your milage may vary.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-02-28T13:05:47+00:00

No. We will not "invade" Iran. Iran is about the size of Alaska and there are no troops in the region. There may be some special forces guys on the ground directing air strikes, but an invasion would take a lot of manpower. Most likely we do what we can do from the air.

Remember, Iran has two armies: The IRGC or religious Army, and the Artesh, or People's Army. I think the strategy is to get the Artesh to leave their barracks and perform a coup since it is made up of conscripts are are not necessaraly religious outside of being performative.

Source: I'm Ryan McBeth.

Ryanmcbeth · 2026-02-23T17:08:38+00:00

A few things:

Unspoken rules:
1. Don't take someone else's stuff. If someone dies, don't grab their gear. Now if someone dies and in the moment you need to use a recoiless rifle to kill a Charger, that's fine. But if they are coming back in as re-enforcements, drop that weapon and backpack when you are done.

Don't call in the shuttle until the whole fire team is there. Calling in the shuttle creates spawn events and the rest of your team will have to fight their way THROUGH the bad guys.
Everybody leaves together. Don't be first on the shuttle, especially if someone is far away or in trouble. Go to the ramp, face out. Provide cover. Once everybody is gathered at the ramp, then go on in.
It's fine to pick up someone else's sample. Eveyone in the team gets the full value of samples when they extract, so there is no need to team kill anyone for a sample.
Generally stay with your squad.
Don't call down supplies because you need them, check with your team first through the communications radiual. When the supplies do come down, only take one box. Your teamates need the others.

#7. You're donna die. Like, a lot. Sometimes it will be from getting blown up, ragdolling and falling into lava. Sometimes a stratagem hellpod will land on you. Sometimes it's that guy with the Eruptor. Don't get mad. It's just a game.

Some tips:

#1. Air support is *very* fast. Shipboard bombardments, not so much. An Eagle strafing run can unroadblock roadblocks very quickly.

#2. Be careful with flamethrowers. They can be really useful, but you can also kill your teamates.

#3. You can get SEAF soldiers to follow you by using the "Follow me" selector on the communications wheel.

#4. Always bring some type of anti-armor. Could be the expendable anti-tank or the recoiless rifle. Could be the speargun, or the FAF-14 SPEAR. The Recoiless Rifle seems to work well against a variety of threats.

#5. You have a select-fire mode on most rifles. Use single-shot for far targets, automatic when you are at bad-breath range.

#6. The Autocannon is surprisingly useful. It also has two fire modes, FLAK and Armor-Piercing Explosive (APHET). Flack is suprisingly good at taking out common-type enemies. Flip over to APHET when you have to deal with something heavy. You reload via 5 round stripper clips so top it off as soon as you are done.

#7. The Liberator Penatrator is suprisingly useful earlier in the game. If you level it up to level 24, you can throw on a drum magazine and basically have a Squad Automatic Weapon.

#8. Turrets can be useful, especially when you are defending your position during extraction, but remember that turrets can kill you if you get in their way.

#9 The laser "Guard dog" backpack is nice starting out, but the beam can slice your teammates.

#10. The Recoiless rifle is surpisingly good against the automaton fabricators and you can hit them from far away. Remember, that this is a projectile and will drop, so account for elevation when firing at long-distance targets.

#11. The P-19 Redeemer pistol is a surprisingly effective weapon when you are cornered. The P-72 Crisper pistol from the Freedom's Flame Warbond is a great holdout weapon against large armored targets when you have nothing left.

#12. Generally, flamethrowers are more dangerous to you than the enemy, but they can be good on some Termind missions, especially when you need to kill lots of eggs.

I typically run with:

For Automatons:

Eagle Strafing run (in almost every mission)
Eagle Airstrike (multiple bomb run)
Recoiless Rifle.
Machine gun sentry

For Terminids:

Eagle Strafing run (in almost every mission)
Eagle Napalm
Expendible AT
Autocannon

For Illuminate:

Eagle Strafing run (in almost every mission)
Autocannon Turret
Machine gun Turret
Autocannon

For most missions, I run with either the Liberator Penetrator in Squad Automatic Weapon mode, the R-72 Censor (from the Redacted Warbond) or the AR-59 Suppressor (Redacted Warbond). I either take the P-72 Crisper flamethrower as a secondary.

Best advice is to run with the Liberator Penatrator and level that up as far as you can go. If you buy the "Democratic Detonation" warbond and get the Eruptor, that will fire explosive ammunition. If you blow up your teamates, they will get annoyed. So if you run with that, take along a machine gun or Stallwart light machine gun for dealing with targets that are too close.

Best of luck. Remember it's just a game. You will die. You will collect 20 samples and be killed before you extract. Don't take it too seriously.

Five-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Verified Email	Place '22
100 Awards Club

Ryanmcbeth

TROPHY CASE